Seating attachment for tables



Sept. 4, 1956 R. M. ovl-:sTRuD SEATING ATTACHMENT FOR TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 9, 1954 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent f" 2,761,491 sEAmJG ArTAcrnunNr FOR TABLES Richard M. Oves'trud, Minneapolis, Minn. Application June 9, 1954, serial No. 435,519 s claims. (ci. 155-124) This invention relates generally to seating devices for infants to be used in the nature of a high chair and more particularly relates to such devices which are adaptj ed to be mounted upon a dining table or other article of furniture.

A general and primary object of my invention is to Aprovide a collapsible chair attachment for tables which when in erected condition has a seat member supported in 'seating position relative to the table top and which may be readily moved while yet attached to a stored position under the table top.

Another and more specific object o f my invention is @to provide a tableseating device which is mounted on lthe table for swnging movement between stored and Verected positions and havingmeans whereby theweight .of the'chair itself will positively lock 4the device in erected tarily erected or collapsed and yet which is simple and durableA in construction, attractive in appearance, easily mounted on the table, and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view my invention broadly comprises 'a chair attachment for a table having a seat, link or hangermeans for suspending the seat from the underside of the table top so as to allow .the seat to be swung between a stored position against the underside of the top and an erectedposition beside the table in seating relation to the top, said link means so disposed when the seat is in erected position as to cause the seat to gravitationally seek movement in a rdirection toward its stored position, and means selectively 'operational between the seat and the table for restraining said vmovement to positively lock the seat in its erected condition. While thisgeneral concept is believed to be novel, 1 have also provided additional structural'features which are new to the art and which supplement and lend increased effectiveness to the aforementioned structure.

The above mentioned and still additional objectsu'of the invention willbe brought to light during the course of the following specication, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferredforrn of 'my linvention mounted on a table and lshowing the chair in erected condition in seating relation to the -table.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the form shown in Fig. l and also in erected position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chair shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same'being in a collapsed vor stored vposition 'under the table top.

Fig. 4 -is a generally horizontal section taken along Pftnted Sept. 4', 19156 fice.

line 4 -4 of Fig. 2 showing the collapsed and forward positions of the arm rests.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form 'of the invention in seating position relative to the table. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 with the chair collapsed and stored under the table.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference characters will be used to denote like parts o'rstr'uctural features in the different views. The letter '1` designates generally a dining table having atop 10 'providing an eating surface and marginal member 11. The preferred form of the invent-ion, shown in Figs. lthro'gh 4, is designated generally by the number 12 and isj'shown mounted on the table T. C hair 12 comprises 'generally a leg member 13, a seat unit14, a back unit 15, and a suspension member 16, all of which will now be V:described in detail.

The leg member 13 is preferably of tubular stock congured in a relatively square cornered U-shape as shown in Fig. 1, allowing broad engagement of the cross portion 17 with the floor F. The upper ends of the leg are provided with aligned apertures for receiving the cross rod 18 which extends laterally beyond the upright legportions for connection with the seat unit 14. The seat unit Vcomprises apair of transversely spaced side plates 21 '9 rigidly secured as by screws 20 to the lateral edge'sfof 'a y"edge remote from the leg member 13. It may be observed in Fig. 2 that the seat member 21 is vspacedconsiderably from both the front and rear ends of the respective side plates. Accordingly, when the chair is in `erected condition the'portions of the leg units above vthe pivot axis 18 rest against `the rear edge of the seat as shown in Fig. 2.

The unit 15 serves as a back and arm rest fora child in seated position up the member 21. A U-shaped jmerriber 2.5, preferably of tubular stock similar tothe leg member 13, is swingably'associated with the seatunit 14 through means of cross "rod 26 extending through aperturesin the end portions of the member and the upper rear corners of Vplates 19, the rod being secured asby nuts 27 threaded on the ends thereof. A back're'st plate 28 is mounted between the side extensions lof the member 25 'as by screws29 and has a channelLsh'aped recess 30 extending transversely across the front face thereof. A pair of side arms 32 are swingably mounted -as on pins 33 for movement between a collapsed polsition lying within the recess 30 andan open orforwardly extending position, as shown in Figs. 2 and`4. These arms are of "outwardly opening channel construction with one slightly wider than 'the other to allow them to nest 'one 4within the other when in collapsed position in the're'c'elss 30. The back rest 28 may be provided with openings 34 immediatelyto the rear of pins 33, if necessary, to allow the arms to swing freely. p I

l'lt is important Vto. note that the end vportions ofthe member 2S Aextend 'downward substantially beyond the Vbar 26 as at'35. The location of pivot 26 and the lengih @spaced tolie just `outside of-the Vside plates 19l of `theiseat.

The terminals of the member are pivotally attached as at 37 on a common axis to the lower forward portions of the adjacent plates 19. The cross portion of the member 16 is attached to the underside of the table top 10 as by brackets 38 allowing the member swinging movement.

The utility of the device as a table seat and the manner of erecting and collapsing the same should now be clearly understood. In the erected condition, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the seat member 21 is supported in a horizontal position below and at the side of the table top in convenient seating relation thereto. The front or inner end of the seat is held by the hanger or link 16 while the rear end is supported by the leg member 13 and by arm rests 32 bearing against the side edge of the table. It is found that while either leg 13 or arms 32 will in combination With the link 16 support the chair in erected position, their joint use is a safety measure and lends added rigidity.

In order that the arms 32 be effective in providing the desired rigidity it is, of course, necessary that the brackets 38 be so spaced from the edge of the table as to cause member 16 to hang outside of its line of gravity when the member 21 is'in the desired seating position. So arranged the seat unit 14 seeks inward movement and the extended arms 32 will bearrmly against the table.

The engagement of the flange 23 with the member 16 supplements leg 13 in locking the seat 21 in a horizontal position despite weight of the chair and any additional burden imposed thereupon.

To collapse this form of the chair for storage under the table the arms 32 are folded about their respective pivots33 into the recess 30, the one nesting within the channel of the other. The back unit 1S is then swung forwardly and downwardly a sufficient distance for portions 35 to release the portions of the leg extending above the pivot 18. The leg unit may then be folded forwardly and upwardly against vthe bottom of seat member 21 and between the side plates 19. The seat unit is then swung inwardly or forwardly on the suspension member 16 and the back rest is folded downwardly against the top surface of the seat member 21. The seat is then in a collapsed condition and may be swung inwardly and upwardly about the upper axis of the member 16 until the cross portion 17 of the leg is slipped into locking engagement with a clip 39 mounted on the underside of the table. Hook 40 depends fromthe table top for engagement around rod 26 to support the outer end of the collapsed device. So stored atly against the underside of the table top the chair is completely out of the way and unobservable in normal use of the table.

The chair may be again erected in a very simple manner. Rod 26 is manually released from the hook 40 and the device is pulled outwardly withdrawing the cross member 17 from clip 39. Leg member 13, seat unit 14 and hanger 16 will then by force of gravity swing downwardly to their respective erected positions. The relative unfolding movement of units 14 and 13 are limited respectively by engagement of the upper ends of the leg with the rear edge of seat 21. The back rest unit is then unfolded and arms 32 swung outwardly into engagement with the side of the table.

The steps in erecting and collapsing the chair have been described in detail and it may accordingly appear that they are diiicult and time consuming. However, if

the chair is constructed and mounted as disclosed, eitherof these operations may be effectively performed in the matter of seconds.

Complete rigidity and stability of the erected chair is assured by several factors. Flange 23 is in contact with the hanger 16 to lock the seat against further opening movement. Leg 13 is locked between the seat 21 and the portions 35 of the back rest and conversely by the same construction rearward movement of the back rest is limited. Forward collapsing of the back rest is prohibited by the propping function of the arm rests 32. Arm rests 32 diverge slightly in theirforward extension to prevent their inward collapse when under compression and theirstub ends adjacent pins 33 bear inwardly against the inner edges of opening 34 to limit their unfolding movement. The axes of pivots 18, 26, and 37 are parallel to each other and they are in turn preferably parallel to the edge of the table top along which the device is used.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this construction the chair is supported on the table without the benet of a leg member, such as shown in the form heretofore described. A pair of elongated brackets 41 are mounted in spaced relation on the underside of the table 10. The brackets extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to the marginal member 11 and the side edge of the table against which the chair is to be mounted. Each of the brackets 41 has depending ears 42 at its ends and from each of the ears is suspended a link member for fore and aft swinging movement about a transverse axis. The links, while identical in size and construction, are separately identified, the forward or innermost pair each by the numeral 43 and the rear or outermost pair each by the numeral 44. The links in each pair swing on a common pivot axis.

The seat assembly is designated generally at 46 and comprises a pair of transversely spaced side bars 47 connected at their outer end portions by a :dat seat member 48 secured across the top of the bars as by screws 49. The inner end portions of the bars 47 have pivotal connection with the lower ends of the links 43 and 44 at each side with the link lower pivots 50 being spaced equally to the link upper pivots with ears 42. Accordingly, the links 43 and 44 on each side hang parallel and in longitudinal alignment for swinging movement on a common plane. Bars 47 are provided with outwardly projecting stop lugs 47a at their forward ends which are engageable with the links 43 to limit outward movement of the frame 46 on the links. Lugs 47a are pivotally or otherwise movably connected to the bars 47 to be turned inwardly to an out of the way position allowing the assembly 46 to be swung outwardly on the links prior to collapsing the seat.

The back assembly for this embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by the number 52. It includes a back board comprising upper and lower sections 53 and 54 held in rigidly spaced relation by a pair of backing ribs 55. The space 56 between the sections 53 and 54 provides a storage area for the arm rests 57 which are pivotally mounted at each side of the back for opening and closing movement as by pins 58. The attached ends of each arm 57 extend somewhat beyond the pin 58 to swing against the contiguous rib so as to limit opening movement of the arm to ninety degrees or slightly more. The arms may be made to taper forwardly in thickness so as to allow both to tit within the area 56 as they overlap each other in folded or collapsed position.

The back assembly is connected to the seat assembly by means of hinges 59 which allow the back member 54 to be moved between the erected upright condition in Fig. 5 and the collapsed condition against the seat 48 as shown in Fig. 6. Slotted braces 60 at each side of the back ride on lateral projections 61 on the seat to limit opening movement of the back to a substantially right angular position with respect to the seat.

When a child is seated in this form of the seating device the forward links 43 are under compression while the outer or rearward links 44 are under tension. Here again when the seat member 48 is in correct seating relation to the table top the arm rests 57 serve to prop the member against swinging inward on the suspension links.

To collapse the chair the arms 57 are folded into the space 56, the seat assembly is pulled outwardly a suflicient distance to allow the back assembly 52 to be folded against the seat, and the entire unit is then swung inwardly on the links 43 and 44 to the stored position shown in Fig. 6. A spring clip 62 is mounted under the table top to snap over one of the links 43 and releasably lock the chair in its stored position. To re-erect'the chair the collapsing stepsare, of course, reversed. A While the two forms of the invention herein disclosed have specific differences in structure, it will be readily observed the basic principles used for their successful operation are much alike. In these disclosures I have provided infant seating means for effectively and economically carrying out the aforementioned objectives.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In an infants chair for mounting on a table, a seat, a back rest hinged to one side of the seat for movement between an erect position at substantially right angles to the seat and a collapsed position with its front face lying against the seat, said back rest having an elongated recess in its front face extending generally parallel to its hinge axis, a pair of arm rests extending forwardly one from each side of the back rest and pivoted thereto for folding into the recess, a leg member pivoted to the seat member on an axis parallel to said hinge axis for folding movement into a collapsed position in alignment with and near the underside of the seat, and a longitudinally rigid link member having one end pivoted to the seat on an axis parallel to said hinge axis and having its other end adapted for swingable connection with the underside of a table top.

2. In a childs chair adapted for attachment to a table top, a seat member having a flat seat, link means for swingably suspending the seat member from the table top for swinging the seat member between a stored position against the underside of the table top and an erected position in seating relation to the table top, a back rest pivoted on the seat member for folding thereagainst, collapsible means extending from the back rest and adapted to bear against the table top to retain the seat member in its erected position against said swinging movement, and a leg member pivoted to the seat member for movement between an erected position generally perpendicular to the seat and a collapsed position generally parallel to the seat, and said leg member having a portion locked between the seat and back rest when it is in its erected position to restrain the leg against collapsing.

3. In a childs chair, a seat member adapted for connection to a table for movement between an inner stored position under the table top and an outer usable position in seating relation thereto by means of rigid link means pivoted to the inner portion of the seat member and extending upwardly therefrom for rocking connection with the underside of the table, a back rest pivoted near the outer edge of the seat member for folding thereagainst, a pair of arm rests pivoted one at each side of the back rest for folding thereagainst and extending forwardly for engagement with the table top to releasably lock the seat member against movement toward its inner position, and stop means on the seat member engageable with the link means to limit movement of the seat member about its pivotal connection with the link means.

4. In a childs chair, a seat member adapted for connection to a table for movement between an inner stored position under the table top and an outer usable position in seating relation thereto by means of rigid link means pivoted to the inner portion of the seat member and extending upwardly therefrom for rocking connection with the underside of the table, a back rest pivoted near the outer edge of the seat member for folding thereagainst, a pair of arm rests pivoted one at each side of the back rest for folding thereagainst and extending forwardly for engagement with the table top to releasably lock the seat member against movement toward its inner position, stop means on the seat member engageable with the link means to limit movement of the seat member about its pivotal connection with the link means, and said stop means being Vsolocated in the path of movement ofthe link means as to become operative only when the seat member is in its outer position. Y Y j u 5. An infants Vchair for 7.attach-ment to a table for movement between an inner stored position under the ltable top and an outer seating position relative to the table, va seating uni-t having a seat, lrigid link lmeans attached to the inner portion of the seating unit for swingably suspending the unit from the tabletop, a leg memberpivo'ted to the vouter portion of the seating unit and extending downwardly for `engagement with the door when the chairris in lseating position, said leg member having a stub portion extendingrabove its pivot, a back rest pivoted to the outer portion of the seating unit and having an extension projecting below its pivot, .said stub portion lying between the seat and said extension when the chair is in seating position to restrain movement of the leg member labout its pivot, said leg member and Iback rest being collapsible about their respective pivots against the seating unit to provide a 4.compact assembly for movement of the chair to its stored position.

6. An infants chai-r for attachment to a table yfor movement fbetween I'an inner stored position under the table top and an -outer seating position relative to the table, a seating unit having a seat, rigid link means attached to the inner portion -of the seating unit for swingably suspending the unit from the table top, a leg member pivoted to the outer portion of the seating unit and extending downwardly for engagement with the oor when the .chair is in seating position, a back rest pivoted to the outer portion of the seating unit, said leg member and back rest being collapsible about Vtheir respective pivots against fthe seating unit to provide a compact assembly for movement of the chair to its sto-red position, and holding means :adapted to be attached to the underside of the table and engageable with the assembly Ito releasably rh'old the assembly in stored position.

7. In a childs chair connected to a table for movement between an inner stored position unde-r the table top and an 4outer usable posi-tion in seating relation thereto, a seat member including a seat .and side members secured to the sides of the seat and having extended portions extending forwardly beyond the front edge of the seat, a pair of rigid links spaced t-ransversely of the seat and lhaving their -upper ends pivotally connected on =a common axis to the underside of the table and their lower ends pivotally connected one to each of said portions, an upright -back rest hinged to lthe -outer edge of the seat member, arm rest means extending forwardly -from each `side of the back .rest and pivoted thereto for movement between open positions extending forwardly from the back rest and collapsed positions folded against 'the back rest, said arm rest means adapted Ito engage against the table edge when in Iopen position, and the distance from said -axis to said table edge plus the distance of forward extension of :said a-rm rest means being only slightly greater than the distance from the lower pivotal connection of the 'links to said hinge whereby said links are swung outwardly just over center when the chair is in its outer p0- sition.

8. In a childs c-hair connected to a table for movement between an inner stored position under the table top land an outer usable position in seating relation thereto, a seat member including a seat and side bars secured to the sides of .the seat and having extended portions extending forwardly beyond the inner edge -of the seat, a pair of rigid compression links having their upper ends pivotally connected to the underside lof the table `and their lower ends pivotally connected one to each of said portions, Ia pair of tension `links having .their upper ends pivotally connected to the underside of the table on a lcommon axis spaced outwardly from the compression link connection thereto and their lower ends pivotally .connected one to each -of said side bars at points spaced outwardly lfrom said compression link Vconnections thereto, a lback rest hinged to `the outer edge of the seat for movement between an erect position Asubstantially perpendicular to the `seat and `a collapsed position against the seat, arm rest means extending inwardly from each side of the back rest and pivoted Jthereto for movement to collapsed lpositions against the back rest, lsaid arm rest means adapted to engage against the adjacent edge .fof .the table ftop when extending inwardly from the back rest, and the distan-ce :from said common .axis of the tension links to said table edge plus the distance 'of inward extension lof said arm rest means being greater than rt'he distance trom said axis rof said back rest hinge connecfti-on to ythe axis of the pivotal connection between said tension links and the seat side bars whereby said links angle downwardly and outwardly over center when Ithe chair is in its outer position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Spaet et al. May 22, 1888 Potteiger Apr. 23, i1901 Erickson Ian. 7, 1908 Straith Nov. 9, y1926 Sponsler May 17, 1938 Wilson Sept. 14, '1948 -Ivory June 28, 1949 lHodgson et al. Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Mar. `28, 1950 

